Container treatment device with a device for replacing retaining and centering units

Abstract

In a container treatment device, retaining-and-centering units hold a container as it traverses a transport path that passes through a set of treatment stations, each having a rotor that propels a retaining-and-centering unit along the transport path. Sometimes, a retaining-and-centering unit becomes defective and must be removed from the transport path. A storage-and-replacement device receives a defective retaining-and-centering unit that is removed from the transport path and supplies a replacement. This occurs with no interruption of operation.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for container treatment, said apparatus comprising a storage-and-replacing device and transport elements, wherein said transport elements define a container-transport path that extends between a container inlet and a container outlet, wherein each of said transport elements receives, supports, and moves retaining-and-centering units part way along said transport path, as a result of which each retaining-and-centering unit is handed over by one transport element to another transport element so that each retaining-and-centering unit traverses said container transport path from said container inlet to said container outlet, wherein said retaining-and-centering units each receive, retain, center, move, and release a container in a controlled manner during treatment thereof, wherein each of said transport elements is driven to rotate about a vertical machine-axis thereof, wherein said transport elements comprise a first transport-element, wherein said storage-and-replacing device interacts with said first transport-element, wherein said storage-and-replacing device comprises receiving areas, wherein said storage-and-replacing device and said first transport-element are configured to cooperate such that when said first transport-element discharges a defective retaining-and-centering unit out of said transport path said storage-and-replacing device retrieves a replacement retaining-and-centering unit and introduces said replacement retaining-and-centering unit into said transport path as a replacement for said defective retaining-and-centering unit that has been discharged from said transport path while said transport elements are moving at a target rotational speed thereof, thereby swapping retaining-and-centering elements into and out of said transport path with no reduction in throughput. 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said storage-and-replacing device comprises a first rotor, wherein said first rotor rotates about a vertical machine-axis thereof, and wherein, around a periphery thereof, said first rotor comprises said receiving areas, wherein a retaining-and-centering unit can be detachably attached at each of said receiving areas. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said storage-and-replacing device comprises at most said first rotor, wherein said first rotor receives said defective retaining-and-centering unit and also supplies said replacement retaining-and-centering unit, wherein said first rotor receives said defective retaining-and-centering unit during a first time interval, wherein said first rotor supplies said replacement retaining-and-centering unit during a second time interval, and wherein said first and second time intervals at least partially overlap. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said storage-and-replacing device comprises a second rotor, wherein said first rotor receives said defective retaining-and-centering unit that is discharged from said transport path and said second rotor provides said replacement retaining-and-centering unit for placement on said transport path as a replacement for said defective retaining-and-centering unit. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said first and second rotor interact with said first transport element and wherein the first and second rotors rotate synchronously in opposite direction. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said transport elements comprise a second transport-element, wherein said first rotor interacts with said first transport-element and said second rotor interacts with said second transport-elements. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said storage-and-replacing device comprises, at a first receiving area, said replacement retaining-and-centering unit that is to be introduced into said transport path, wherein said storage-and-replacing device comprises a second receiving area for accepting said defective retaining-and-centering unit, which is to be replaced by said replacement retaining-and-centering unit, said defective retaining-and-centering element having traversed a plurality of said transport elements, and wherein said first receiving area is occupied and said second receiving area is free. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein said first and second receiving areas are vertically offset relative to each other. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said first transport-element comprises receiving areas that are vertically offset relative to each other. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said first transport-element is disposed at said container inlet. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said defective retaining-and-centering unit is identified based on discharging information that is indicative of a defect in said defective retaining-and-centering unit, wherein said discharging information is obtained during container treatment. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said discharging information triggers a discharging process that ultimately causes removal of said defective discharging information is obtained during container treatment. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a return path that extends between said container inlet and said container outlet, wherein said storage-and-replacing device is disposed at an end of said return path. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said storage-and-replacing device is operated in a manner such that, when a decision is made to discharge said defective retaining-and-centering unit, a rotor is made to sustain an angular acceleration until an angular velocity of said rotor is sufficient to receive said defective retaining-and-centering unit, wherein said storage-and-replacing device has a structure that permits said operation, wherein as a result of having said structure, said storage-and-replacing device possesses the capability of being able to sustain said angular acceleration until said angular velocity of said rotor becomes sufficient to receive said defective retaining-and-centering element. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said first transport-element rotates with a first angular velocity, wherein said receiving area rotates with a second angular velocity, and wherein said first angular velocity and said second angular velocity have equal magnitudes. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a receiving area on said storage-and-replacing device contains said replacement retaining-and-centering unit, wherein a receiving area on said first transport-element is free to receive said replacement retaining-and-centering unit, wherein said receiving area on said storage-and-replacing device is driven to move with first angular velocity, wherein said receiving area on said first transport-element is driven to move with a second angular velocity, and wherein said first and second angular velocities have equal magnitudes, whereby said replacement retaining-and-centering unit is transferred from said storage-and-replacing device to said first transport-element to be placed on said transport path. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said retaining-and-centering units each comprise a gripper mechanism, a bearing, and electronic components. 
     
     
       18. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a receiving area in one of said storage-and-replacing device and said first transport-element comprises a receiving area that contains a retaining-and-centering unit, wherein a retaining-and-centering unit at said receiving area can be vertically displaced. 
     
     
       19. The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein said retaining-and-centering unit can also be radially displaced. 
     
     
       20. A method comprising identifying a defective retaining-and-centering unit that is being conveyed along a transport path by a plurality of transport elements as being a defective retaining-and-centering unit, said transport path extending between a container inlet and a container outlet, after said defective retaining-and-centering unit has arrived at a first transport-element from said plurality of elements, causing said defective retaining-and-centering unit to be transferred from said first transport-element to a storage-and-replacing device, thereby removing said defective retaining-and-centering unit from said transport path, and, while said defective retaining-and-centering unit is being removed from said transport path, causing said storage-and-replacing device to replace said defective retaining-and-centering unit with a replacement retaining-and-centering unit while said transport elements are moving at a target rotational speed thereof, thereby swapping retaining-end-centering elemnts into and out of said transport path with no reduction in throughput.